'Journalist instigated the mob'

Was the molestation of a young woman on a busy street here on Monday night staged? RTI activist Akhil Gogoi claimed so on Saturday, minutes after the under-fire police arrested a fifth accused in western Assam's Bongaigaon town.

The police had on Thursday arrested four of the 11 prime accused in the incident.

Gogoi alleged that journalist — Gaurab Jyoti Neog, reporter of NewsLive TV channel — had instigated a mob to molest the girl and filmed it on his mobile phone. Gogoi's allegation was based on a video footage screened at the Guwahati Press Club on Saturday afternoon.

The news channel denied the charge as baseless.

Claiming to have acquired the raw footage, Gogoi alleged Neog was heard telling a colleague who joined him later that he had organised the incident.

"The second journalist was wary of ruining the girl's life, but the first said he had urged them (mob) to do so," he said, adding a CD of entire footage was submitted to Assam Police chief.

Neog was not available for comment, but NewsLive managing editor Syed Zarir Hussain said Gogoi's charges were unjustified.

"One of our reporters happened to be present at the spot. He began recording it and called the office for a camera team. Gogoi acquired the video from our channel. The footage clearly shows both journalists trying to protect the girl," he said.